David Cameron: Gay marriage law is a great step but we must not be complacent

David Cameron today warned against complacency about the bullying of gay people despite yesterday’s historic passing of the same-sex marriage Act.

Writing in the Evening Standard, the Prime Minister spoke for the first time of his pride and delight when the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act received Royal Assent and finally became law of the land.

“Yesterday was an historic day,” wrote Mr Cameron. But he said the Government had to do more, including bringing in a “zero tolerance” approach to the intimidation of gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender people.

“The UK is rated as the best place in Europe for LGBT equality - but we cannot be complacent,” he said. “There are subjects we must continue to tackle: not least taking a zero tolerance approach to homophobic bullying, and caring for elderly members of the LGBT community. Rest assured, this Government will work tirelessly to make sure this happens.”

On Wednesday, Mr Cameron will host the annual Downing Street reception for leading LGBT campaigners, with guests including MPs and peers who spoke up for gay marriage during its controversial passage.

The PM hopes that Britain’s passing of the most controversial gay equality legislation of recent times will help change attitudes in other countries where gay people are persecuted.

Today the British laws reform was being hailed as an example in Haiti where a small gay and lesbian community has long remained largely underground. Watchdog groups in the Caribbean island rallied for gay rights after religious leaders calling themselves Haitian Coalition of Religious and Moral Organizations protested against gay marriage calls.

Other countries are also marvelling that Britons accepted gay marriage despite their reputation for stuffy attitudes towards sex.

“The opposition seemed restricted to a very small number of people very vigorous in their views,” said Steven Fielding, a political scientist at the University of Nottingham. “It was restricted to the back benchers of the Conservative Party. It wasn’t shared across the political spectrum. It was an issue whose time had come. To oppose it seemed slightly strange.”

Campaigner and PinkNews.co.uk publisher Benjamin Cohen said: “Giving gay couples the right to marry will make our nation a more tolerant, open and welcoming place to live in and significantly increase the life prospects of so many people.

“It is absolutely fantastic that this change in the law, almost uniquely, was proposed by a Conservative prime minister and his Liberal Democrat Deputy with the support of the Labour party leader.

“Sometimes politicians can work together for the common good and this is a stunning example of this.”